Kitchen sink realism is a term used to describe a genre of literature and art that emerged in the 1950s in Britain. It is known for its portrayal of the everyday lives of working-class individuals and families, focusing on the harsh realities and struggles they face. This movement was a response to the highly romanticized and idealized portrayals of working-class life in earlier literature and art. In this article, we will explore the definition, characteristics, and examples of kitchen sink realism.Kitchen Sink Realism: Definition, Characteristics, and Examples
Kitchen sink realism originated in literature, specifically in the works of British playwrights John Osborne and Arnold Wesker. Their plays, such as Look Back in Anger and Chicken Soup with Barley, respectively, depicted the lives of working-class characters in a realistic and gritty manner. The term "kitchen sink" was coined by critic Kenneth Tynan to describe the inclusion of ordinary household objects, such as a kitchen sink, in these plays.Kitchen Sink Realism - Literature
The term "kitchen sink realism" has also been used in TV and film to describe works that portray the lives of working-class individuals and families in a realistic and unglamorous manner. This includes popular shows such as Shameless and Coronation Street, which showcase the struggles of families living in poverty or working-class neighborhoods. These works often feature themes of poverty, class struggles, and social issues.Kitchen Sink Realism - TV Tropes
The Oxford Reference defines kitchen sink realism as "a literary and artistic movement that emerged in Britain in the 1950s, characterized by its depiction of the gritty realities of working-class life." This definition highlights the focus on realism and the working-class as key elements of kitchen sink realism.Kitchen Sink Realism - Oxford Reference
The Art Story describes kitchen sink realism as a movement that aimed to break away from the traditional and idealized forms of art and literature. It sought to bring attention to the struggles and realities of the working-class, often using everyday objects and settings as symbols. This movement was also a response to the growing consumer culture and mass media in post-war Britain.Kitchen Sink Realism - The Art Story
The Tate, a renowned art institution in the UK, features works of kitchen sink realism in its collection. These works often depict scenes from everyday life, focusing on the working-class and their struggles. One example is the painting The Kitchen Sink by Scottish artist John Bellany, which shows a cluttered and chaotic kitchen scene.Kitchen Sink Realism - Tate
The British Film Institute highlights the impact of kitchen sink realism on British cinema from the 1950s to the 1960s. It was a significant movement in the British New Wave, a period of filmmaking that focused on social realism and the lives of working-class individuals. Notable films of this genre include Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and A Taste of Honey.Kitchen Sink Realism - British Film Institute
The Encyclopedia Britannica defines kitchen sink realism as a movement that aimed to showcase the struggles of ordinary people, often using a naturalistic and unglamorous approach. It also notes the influence of this movement on other forms of art, such as music and photography.Kitchen Sink Realism - Encyclopedia Britannica
Merriam-Webster defines kitchen sink realism as "a style of art or literature that depicts the lives and problems of ordinary people in an unvarnished, unsentimentalized way." This definition emphasizes the focus on realism and the ordinary in kitchen sink realism.Kitchen Sink Realism - Merriam-Webster
The Free Dictionary defines kitchen sink realism as a movement that aimed to portray the struggles and realities of working-class life in a raw and unromanticized manner. This definition also highlights the use of everyday objects and settings as symbols in this genre of art and literature.Kitchen Sink Realism - The Free Dictionary